Joint



Nov. 26, 1935. H. c. LORD El AL JOINT Filed Spt. 24, 1952 INVENTORS f/fz2 v fATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Thomas Lord assignorto said Hugh C. Lord Application September 24, 1932, Serial No. 634,7625 Claims. (01. 287-) The present invention is designed to improve jointsand as exemplified is used in connection with securing a cross pin'of aspring joint in its shackle, or bracket. In this connection and in manyconnections, it is desirable to secure the joint parts very rigidly andsecurely together. The present invention is designed to make such arigid connection and to provide a slighttake-up so that as the joint issubjected to jar of the parts in use it will effect a loosening of thejoint. Features and details of the invention will appear from thespecification and claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing as follows:-

Fig. 1 shows an end elevation of the joint.

Fig. 2 a section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 a detached view of a cross securing bolt.

Fig. 5 an end view of a wedge ring.

Fig. 6 a side elevation of such a ring.

l marks the joint support. This may be in the form of a bracket, orshackle, or other form of support depending on the use to which theinvention is put. 2 marks a spring eye, and 3 a spring of an ordinaryautomobile. Arranged. in the spring eye is a joint comprising an outershell 4, a rubber bushing 5, and a central pin 6. The central pinextends endwise from the ends of the bushing and extends into slots 1 atthe lower ends of the forked support. This slot 1 extends to the edge ofthe support and is preferably of a width to permit the assembly of thejoint pin by a movement of the crosspin in a direction across its axis.The slot terminates in a semi-cylindrical seat 8 on which the joint pin6 seats. The joint pin preferably has the grooves 0 which forconvenience of manufacture and assembly may be annula The side walls ofthe slot 1 have openings l0 and H for receiving a bolt l2. The bolt isprovided with a head l3 and screw threads M. The opening II is of thenormal size of the bolt and the opening lllis somewhat larger. The boltl2 has a wedge surface I5 terminating in a cylindrical surface It nextto the head 13. The cylindrical surface I6 makes a reasonable fit withthe opening Ill. v

The parts are so proportioned that with the joint pin on its seat, asshown in Fig. 3, the small portion of the bolt [2 will pass through theopening I I and engage the joint pin at the groove and the bottomsurface of the opening In. With the parts in this position, the nut I8is applied and the bolt I2 drawn endwise into place. As the wedgesurface J5 enters the opening l0 it forces the cross pin I2 crosswisegradually putting the belt l2 under strain and definitely clamping thejoint pin on its seat. It will be noted that as the cross pin is drawninto place and subjected to the lateral pressure through the wedgingaction that the pin is deflected and for this purpose the pin shouldhave some elasticity and to the extent of its elastic limit it has atake-up which prevents the jarring loose' of the joint. If thetolerances are such that the pin is actually deflocted beyond theelastic limit no particular harm is done because up to the elastic limitit still has the take-up; In this way the joint is made rigid and undervery severe conditions as to 15 jarring is maintained in that rigidcondition.

The wedge surface and cylindrical surface I 5 may be formed integrallywith the bolt; or if desired, may be formed by a separate ring l1.

Preferably the opening H is slightly enlarged 20 at the end next theslot at H! and the cylindrical surface l6 terminates at a pointcomparatively remote from the joint pin so that the bridged spacebetween the supports of the cross pin gives considerable length to thecross pin to permit of its resilient deflection.

It will be noted that as the cross bolt is drawn home and the head ofthe bolt engages the wall of the bracket, or shackle the side walls ofthe slot may be slightly deflected inwardly, thus 30 assisting in theclamping action and the tensile pull on the bolt tends to straighten itand thus adds to its engagement with the joint pin.

What we claim as new is:-

1. 'In a joint; the combination of a joint member comprising a jointpin; a support having an open slot terminating in a seat for receivingthe joint pin; a cross pin bridging and closing the slot and engagingthe joint pin, said cross pin and support having engaging surfaces; oneof which surfaces is wedging and adapted through the camming action ofthe engaging surfaces as the cross pin is advanced on the support toforce the cross pin laterally relatively to the support, the engagingsurfaces, seat and joint pin being so related as to clamp the joint pinon the seat through such lateral movement of the cross pin; and means ofengagement between the cross pin and the support at the sides of theslot putting the cross pin under tension in that part of the cross pinbridging the slot.

2. In a joint, the combination of a joint member comprising a joint pinhaving a groove with curved walls; a support having an open slotterminating in a seat for receiving the joint pin; 55

and a cross pin bridging and closing the slot and engaging the joint pinin the groove, said cross pin having a curved surface corresponding tothe curve of the groove having wedging surfaces engaging the walls ofthe support and adapted through the camming action of the engagingsurfaces as the cross pin is advanced on the support to force the crosspin laterally relatively to the support, the engaging surfaces, seat andjoint pin being so related as to clamp the joint pin on the seat throughsuch lateral movement of the cross in. p 3. In a joint, the combinationof a support having a slot extending to its edge and terminating in ajoint seat, the walls of the slot being provided with openings, theopening in one wall being larger than the opening in the opposite wall;a joint pin seated on the joint seat; and a cross pin extending throughthe openings and engaging the joint pin, said cross pin having a wedgingsurface engaging the walls of the larger opening and adapted through thecamming action of the wedging surface as the cross pin is advanced onthe support to force the cross pin laterally relatively to the support,the engaging surface, seat and joint pin being so related as to clampthe joint pin on the seat through such lateral movement of the crosspin, the points of support for the cross pin by the walls of theopenings being outwardly spaced from the sides of the slot. 7

4. In a joint, the-combination of a joint member comprising a joint pin;a support having an open slot terminating in a seat for receiving thejoint pin; a cross pin bridging and closing the so related as to clampthe joint pin on the seatthrough such lateral movement of the cross pinwith pressure resiliently deflecting the cross pin in the bridged space;and means of engagement between the cross pin and the support at thesides of the slot putting the cross pin under tension in that part ofthe cross pin bridging the slot.

5. In a joint, the combination of a support having a slot extending toits edge and terminating in a joint seat, the walls of the slot beingprovided with openings, the opening in one wall being larger than theopening in the opposite wall; a joint pin seated on the joint seat; anda cross pin arranged in the openings engaging the joint pin, said crosspin having a wedging surface and adapted through the camming action ofthe wedging surface as the cross pin is advanced in the openings toforce the cross pin laterally relatively to the support, the engagingsurfaces, seat and joint pin being so related as to clamp the joint pinon the seat through such lateral movement of the cross pin, said crosspin having a head and screw, said head'and screw putting the cross pinunder tensile strain tending to close the sides of the slot tostraighten the cross pin against the joint pin.

HUGH C. LORD. THOMAS LORD.

